The Argus Museum and Washtenaw County Historical Society are excited to host and sponsor the “Nature Nurture: An Alternative Process Exhibit”. Renegades with Alternative Processes Group (RWAG) are known for their innovative and creative work. They are joined by the Wayne State University Experimental Photography class to explore the Nature vs. Nurture debate thorough visual conversations utilizing historical (Cyanotype) and contemporary (Chlorophyll) photographic processes.

Please join us for the show opening on Friday, August 11th from 6-8 p.m. at the Argus Museum. Visit the museum, peruse the show, meet the artists and enjoy good food and conversation.

The Argus Museum is on the second floor of the Argus I Building, 525 West William Street in Ann Arbor. The show will be available for viewing Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM through September 22. For more information contact the Argus Museum curator, Cheryl Chidester at cchidester@onealconstruction.com or 734-769-0770.

"The Journey in a Day: 200 Years of Student Life at the University of Michigan, 1817–2017" Exhibit opens Sunday, April 2, 2017 and runs through October 22, 2017 free and open to the public

John & William Geddes Letters The Geddes Letter Web Site is a collection of over 100 letters written between early Washtenaw County settler John Geddes and his brother William in Pennsylvania. The letters begin in 1825 and end in 1844 when William moved to a farm in Pittsfield Township. The letters were found in abandoned house in Groton, Massachusetts in the late 1990s. A cooperative project between the Ann Arbor District Library, The Bentley Historical Library, and the Washtenaw County Historical Society.

Artifacts The Washtenaw County Historical Society has over 7,500 artifacts in its collections. Most items are only occasionally displayed in our rotating exhibits. Explore this list and discover the historic--Ann Allen Bible as well as the odd--Elisha Townsend's hair clippings.

A Step Back in Time - A Walking Tour of Historic Ann ArborA downloadable MP3 podcast walking tour of the historical locations and people who have lived in Ann Arbor. The route starts at the Museum on Main Street and takes walkers to Kerrytown, UM Central Campus, Downtown Ann Arbor, the Old West Side, and Lowertown.

Watchman of the Tracks - WCHS Board member, Dale Leslie, remembers the people, places, and events in over 50 years living and working in the Ann Arbor community. For Dale's You Tube video interviews and tributes to local personalities, click here.

Washtenaw County Historical ConsortiumThe Washtenaw County Historical Consortium is a volunteer organization representing over 25 museums, libraries, and historical attractions in and around Washtenaw County, Michigan. Links to area events calendar and member web sites.

Heritage Tourism Map Project Take A Tour Through History! Four distinct themed driving or riding routes throughout Washtenaw County's cities, townships and villages German Heritage Tour, the Greek Revival Tour, the Historic Barns, and the Esek Pray Trail.

History in the Making - Washtenaw History on the Web

Washtenaw County is fortunate to have an active local history scene on the web. Here is a sampling of blogs, columns, and web sites dedicated to telling our history.

Missed a Sunday WCHS lecture? The Ann Arbor District Library has archived lectures and interviews of past events co-sponsored with WCHS. Click HERE for a list of available lectures & interviews.

The "Local History Blog" at the Ann Arbor District Library for local history buffs, written by local history buffs!

Long-time local businessman and WCHS Board member Dale R. (for Radio) Leslie's You Tube channel of interviews and tributes to local history makers, Watchman of the Tracks. See his amazing photo collection at the Ann Arbor District Library's pictureAnnArbor. Contact Dale at daleleslie@comcast.net

Local historian and past WCHS President Wystan Stevens's collection of online history and photographs is at Wystan's Photostream on Flickr. Treasures from e-Bay and other musings at Wystan's Wanderings.

George Wieland has written "Celtic Germans: The Rise and Fall of Ann Arbor's Swabians." George's companion website is here Ann Arbor's Germans: Swabians and tells about the culture and traditions these German immigrants brought to Ann Arbor. Contact George at gwieland@umich.edu

Mission Statement

The mission of the Washtenaw County Historical Society is to educate and inspire our community to engage in the preservation and presentation of area history.